דברי הימים א, פרק י״ד, פסוק ט׳

A sudden military threat emerges as the Philistine army pushes deep into the heart of the land. Their invasion is not a minor border skirmish, but a severe penetration into the territory of Israel, reaching dangerously close to Jerusalem itself [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Upon arrival, the invading forces spread out widely across the terrain. They scatter their troops across the landscape, adopting a classic military formation as they prepare for a major battle [מצודת ציון]. While parallel historical accounts of this event describe their movement with slightly different phrasing, the historical reality remains identical, showing that the army completely blanketed the region [רלב״ג]. This massive military deployment and preparation for combat took place specifically in the Valley of Rephaim, a location positioned right on the doorstep of Jerusalem [ביאור שטיינזלץ].